Device, system and method for detection of bleeding

Abstract

A device, system and method for detecting bile and blood are provided. The device may comprise a housing having a gap through which in-vivo fluids may flow, illumination sources on one side of the gap, a light detector which is facing the illumination sources and is positioned on the opposite side of the gap for detecting light which passes through the in-vivo fluids, and a transmitter to transmit the detected signals generated according to the detected light. The system may further comprise a receiver to receive the detected signals transmitted by the transmitter, and a processor. The method may comprise comparing the detected signals with a predetermined threshold calculated from the transmission spectra of bile and of blood and determining the presence and / or concentration of bile and blood in-vivo.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a National Phase Application of PCT International Application No. PCT / IL2010 / 000079, International Filing Date Jan. 31, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 148,319, filed Jan. 29, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the field of in-vivo detection. More specifically the present invention relates to a device, a system and method for the detection of bleeding in-vivo.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In-vivo bleeding may occur due to different diseases in the body. Bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may occur in various locations along the GI tract which may indicate different pathologies present at those locations. For example, bleeding in the esophagus may be due to esophagitis or due to ruptures in varices in the esophagus. An ulcer in the stomach, as well as an ulcer in the duodenu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a device, system, and method for detecting in-vivo bleeding. The device has a gap that allows in-vivo fluids to flow through and an illumination source and a light detector positioned on either side of the gap. The light detector may transmit signals created by the illumination source to an external receiver. A processor may process the signals and create an absorption or transmission spectra of the in-vivo fluids. By comparing the spectra to reference spectra of bile and blood, the system can determine the presence of bile, blood, or both, and the concentration of each. The system may also use pH levels, enzymatic activity, or bacteria to determine the location of bleeding along the GI tract. The device may have one or more partitions that divide the gap into cells, and each cell may have an illumination source and a light detector facing its corresponding illumination source. The system may also use binding agents attached to the device that bind to proteins related to blood, which can be sensed by a light sensor to determine the presence of blood in-vivo.

Problems solved by technology

An ulcer in the stomach, as well as an ulcer in the duodenum, may cause bleeding.

And in the lower digestive tract, colorectal cancer may cause occult bleeding.

However, this device doesn't take into consideration the presence of bile.

Bile that is found in the small bowel may have transmission spectra that is similar to the transmission spectra of blood, such that there may be some inaccuracies regarding the determination of the presence of blood in-vivo.

Images